Pastry crust recipe Is not that difficult once you get the hang of it. It is any day better than the frozen pastry crust that you get at stores. Every baker has a different recipe or trick for baking a perfect pastry or pie crust.

The most classic pastry crust recipe has butter as its main ingredient. Conventionally, vegetable oil is used to prepare the dough but to make the dough easy to roll out and give the pastry crust a flaky texture use sour cream along with fat.

For a homemade pastry crust recipe, put flour (2 cups), sugar and salt (teaspoon each) in a bowl and pulse the mixture with a food processor for a few minutes. Add about half a cup of butter and mix. Add the rest of the butter into the mixture and pulse for another 8 to 10 times.

Sprinkle some ice-cold water on the mixture and mix again. Add a tablespoon of ice water every time and mix. Do this until the dough starts to hold together. The mixture or the dough is ready once the dough is crumbly enough. Don’t add too much water as it will make the crust too tough.

Once the dough is tough enough, gather it in a form of a mound. Push it down with the palm of your hand. This will flatten the remaining pieces of butter into layers, making the crust flakier.

Divide the dough into even-sized mounds. Make them into disks using the palm of your hand. Over kneading might develop gluten which will toughen the dough further, something you definitely do not want in a pastry crust.

Wrap each disk (sprinkled with a flour) in a plastic wrap and refrigerate it for an hour. You can refrigerate it for up to two days. Remove the dough disks and let them sit at room temperature for up to 10 minutes. This will soften the dough and make rolling out a bit easier.

Add the filling (cream cheese, powdered sugar and cinnamon) roll out the second dough and place it on to the top of the filling of the pie. Trim the excess dough leaving a bit of overhang. Slit the top of the pie with 2-inch-long cuts which will blow out the steam that form inside the crust.

When the crust is sufficiently chilled, line it with a parchment or wax paper or aluminum foil and bake it in in an oven preheated at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, or until the crust forms a golden color. Once baked set it to cool. Once cooled, cut them in the form of pastries and set them in the refrigerator to chill.

This is one of the very basic pastry crust recipes that is definitely worth a try.

If you are looking for a gluten-free pastry crust recipe, many gluten-free recipes that you will find online do not tend to hold their shape and crumble easily when put into a pie dish.

the following tips and pointers will help you make your own gluten-free pastry crust that is made out of tender, buttery and a flaky pie.

• Do not convert a recipe a wheat based recipe into a gluten-free recipe.
  Pastry crust recipes that are wheat based are not as same as their gluten-free versions. Because they contain gluten, they need different ratios of flour and liquid. You might need to add xanthan gum or some ingredient that will substitute gluten and keep the crust pliable and easy to roll out.

• Avoid using food processor for mixing the ingredients
  It is highly recommended to use hands to knead the mixture into a dough instead of using a food processor. Kneading the dough using hands will always give a more flaky and delicate result.

• Double crusts can be tough be prepare
  The toughest part in preparing a gluten-free pastry crust can be the formation if crust. This is because of the delicate procedure to prepare a double crust. If you are not well versed with the delicate procedure, start kneading with small quantities to avoid wastage until you are comfortable with the procedure.

• Make sure that you are using cold butter
  Cold butter is your fiend when preparing the dough for gluten-free pastry crust. Butter helps making the crust of the pastry lighter and flakier, making it easier to work with.
• Chilling is an important procedure when preparing the dough of the crust
  It is very important to chill the pie before rolling it out in the form of crust. This is to ensure that the butter stays cold and does not melt. Once the dough is prepared, wrap it into plastic or a wax paper to hold the dough together and let it chill for at least an hour or even for a day.
• Test the crust first
  Not because this might be your first time trying out a gluten-free pastry crust recipe but, just to save yourself some stress. Keep a backup plan ready just in case the crust does not turn out the way you expected it.
• Don’t panic
  If the crust turns out just fine, follow the typical procedure of rolling the crust out into disks and preparing the pastry. If it does not, keep an open mind and prepare a nut-based or a cookie-based crust (using gluten free cookies).

Oatmeal raisin cookies recipes are one of the most versatile cookies recipes. A variety of ingredients can be added to the classic oatmeal raisin cookies recipe; you can add chocolate chips, walnuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, cloves, ginger and so on to make different flavors of oatmeal raisin cookies.

Despite these variations in oatmeal raisin cookies recipes, they all contain one crucial ingredient: all-purpose flour. For anyone who likes to munch on a lot of cookies, consuming food based on all-purpose flour could be detrimental to their health. However, other healthy alternatives can be used instead of all-purpose flour in oatmeal raisin cookies recipes. Here are a few oatmeal raisin cookies recipes with a twist of good health:

• Oatmeal raisin cookies that are good for the heart: This recipe uses whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. In a bowl, combine 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ cup flax seeds (ground), and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. In a large bowl, mix ½ cup light salted butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup light olive oil, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Beat until you get a creamy consistency. Add two large eggs (one at a time). Slowly add the flour mix, 3 cups of old-fashioned oats and raisins, and stir the mixture. Place flat balls of the dough on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven preheated to 375F.
• Oatmeal raisin cookies with low sugar: Although this recipe has low sugar, it still retains the crunchiness and deliciousness of regular oatmeal raisin cookies. For this recipe, you will need ½ cup of oat flour, ¾ cup of oats, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon and vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or any granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 3 to 4 tablespoons of milk, and 3 tablespoons of raisins. Combine together all the dry ingredients. To this, add the rest of the ingredients and make 8 to 10 balls with the dough. Flatten the balls and place them onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes in the oven preheated to 375F.
• Organic oatmeal raisin cookies: This is one of the healthiest oatmeal raisin cookies recipes. It needs just three ingredients: one ripe banana (mashed), ½ cup organic rolled oats and ¼ cup raisins. You can also add ground cinnamon or peanut butter or chopped walnuts or chocolate chips to add more flavor to the cookies. In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients until everything combines well together. Place flat round balls of the dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until brown (for 12 to 15 minutes) in the oven preheated to 350F.

Decadent chocolate recipes feature in most of the cuisines around the world. In France, these are considered as one of the classic recipes made in the kitchen.

Here are some of the most classic and easy French decadent recipes that you should definitely give a try.

Chocolate crepes recipes
This decadent recipe can be complimented with just about any dessert-oriented recipes. The variations of fillings in these recipes can be limitless. Try a combination of nuts, fruits and sauces to give it a unique touch.

You need 2 cups of milk, half a cup of flour and cocoa powder, 5 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 2 eggs, melted butter (as required), vanilla extract and salt and mix them vigorously until you get a smooth batter for crepe.

Refrigerate it for 20 minutes before making it into crepes. Melt the butter on a large skillet and add 3 tablespoons of batter. Swirl the pan until the pan is covered with batter. Cook it for a minute, until the crepe is slightly moist on top and golden brown beneath. Loosen the edges with a spatula and gently flip it upside down. Roll the crepe, add a few berries on the side with whipped cream and liquid chocolate.

Chocolate mousse
This recipe is a quintessential romantic French dessert that can be made in jiffy. Heat 2/3^rd cups of cream in a saucepan until it begins to steam. Whisk egg yolks and sugar and add ½ a cup of steamed cream, whisking constantly.

Add the mixture back in the remaining steamed cream and cook it over a low heat. Measure the temperature of the mixture, it should reach 165 degrees. Remove it and add vanilla extract and melted chocolate. Once custard cools down, chill it thoroughly.

Beat the remaining cream in a separate bowl. Stir ½ a cup of whipped cream on to the chilled chocolate custard, fold the remaining cream on to it. Chill it for a while. Serve chilled.

Rich chocolate torte
This recipe is known as gateau au chocolat in French. It makes for a perfect, rich chocolate dessert.

Use 2 cups of chopped semi-sweet chocolate, 3/4^th cup of butter, 1/3^rd cup of cocoa powder, half a tea spoon of instant espresso powder and 5 eggs. Preheat an oven at 350-degree Fahrenheit. Butter a deep springform pan lightly and set it aside.

Pour the egg mixture into the chocolate until you get a uniform color. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the mixture into a preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.

cool the tarte in a pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Use a knife or a smooth surface of spatula along the edges of the torte and loosen the sides. Invert the cake onto a platter and cool completely before decorating it with the toppings of your choice.

The peach oatmeal crisp dish combines the best of everything. Delicious to taste and healthy for the body, there is nothing that can get better than this age-old recipe. This dish is primarily prepared from fresh peaches and crisp oats, sounds like a great combination right? The peach oatmeal crisp recipe is not only a good breakfast meal but can be eaten at any time of the day. What’s more? It comes with loads of health benefits. From aiding in weight loss to effectively regulating the bowel movement, it also keeps you full for long hours.

So are you tempted to have some of this amazing dish? Easy to prepare, here is the best peach oatmeal crisp recipe to try. A little effort and lots of love, look how tasty your peach oatmeal crisp recipe turns out to be.

Step 1 – Slice one pound of peaches into thick wedges. One peach can be sliced into 4-5 pieces, depending on the size. Keep the fruit pieces aside.
Step 2 – Preheat the oven rack to 400 degrees F.
Step 3 – Place the peach wedges in a small bowl. Add in 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and mix. Now put in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and a pinch of nutmeg powder. If you are one who can never get enough of lemons and love the fresh flavor, add a teaspoon of freshly grated lemon zest. Do note that this is optional, but it brings a nice twist to the traditional peach oatmeal crisp recipe.
Step 4 – This is the step that makes for the topping. Place a saucepan on the heat. Take two tablespoons of unsalted butter. You can choose to use salted butter too. Let the butter melt. Now add two tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil and butter are heated, add in two tablespoons of granulated sugar and brown sugar each. Stir this mixture well, until the sugar completely melts. Now add two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, two tablespoons of wheat flour, half cup of oatmeal and a pinch of cinnamon. Let the ingredients blend well. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and sliced almonds.
Step 5 – Press the fruit mixture into a baking tray. Transfer the oatmeal mixture evenly on the top of the fruit. Bake the dish for 20-25 minutes until the top comes out in a light golden color. Now dig in!

If you wish to add a little twist, scoop up some ice-cream or drop a dollop of cream on your slice of peach oatmeal crisp.

The peach oatmeal crisp recipe can be served warm, as well as cold. It tastes great either way. The best part, you can prepare it on a day that you are free and consume it through the week. Yes, it says as fresh for a while.

Cookies are one of the most popular comfort foods; a cross between biscuits and cakes, cookies are the most versatile desserts. You can make cookies with many flavors: chocolate, oatmeal, raisins, coconut, peanut butter, nutty. Mostly flour-based, nowadays you will find cookies made with ingredients other flour for people who are health conscious.

Oatmeal raisin cookies are one of the healthier options of cookies you can find. With the crunchiness of oatmeal and the soft chewiness of raisins, these cookie pack in a nutritious punch with the high fiber content of oats. The classic oatmeal raisin cookies recipe can be tweaked around to suit your taste buds. Here are 3 different oatmeal raisin cookies recipes to satiate your sweet cravings:

• Brown sugar oatmeal cookies: This oatmeal raisin cookies recipe requires 1 ¾ cups of packed brown sugar and 1 cup of softened butter or margarine to be beaten in a bowl until you get a fluffy and light consistency. To this, add 2 eggs and one teaspoon of vanilla and blend everything together. Then beat in 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup each of all-purpose flour and wheat flour and 3 cups of old-fashioned oats. Add some roasted raisins and place small flat balls of the dough on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in an oven preheated to 350F.
• Tropical oatmeal cookies: This is one of the best nuts-based oatmeal raisin cookies recipes. You will need 3.25 oz. of macadamia nuts (coarsely chopped) and 7 oz. of dried tropical fruits and raisins (diced). In a bowl, mix together ¾ cup each of packed brown sugar, normal sugar, and butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add to this, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon each of vanilla and baking soda, 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of coconut and the nuts and dried fruits. Place small flat balls of the dough on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375F until the cookies turn light golden brown. Make sure to preheat the oven at 375F.
• Nutella oatmeal raisin cookies: This is one of those oatmeal raisin cookies recipes that do not require any baking. The ingredients required are as follows: 2 cups of sugar, ½ cup milk, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, ¾ cup of Nutella, 2 cups of old-fashioned oats and a handful of roasted raisins. Heat the butter, sugar, and milk over medium heat and boil for one minute. Remove it from the heat and add vanilla, oats, raisins, and Nutella. On to a cookie sheet, place flat dollops of the mixture and cool it for 15 minutes.

French cuisines have a lot of mystery surrounding it. It is matter of esteem and it is likely because all the great chefs specialize in the French cuisine.

French cuisine can turn an ordinary ingredient meal into a fantastic spread. The trick here is to make it look extravagant with the simplest of ingredients. As a matter of fact, French recipes have the simplest of the ingredients, which means anyone can cook them. They are fun to cook and a delight to eat.

Let us take a look at some of the easy french recipes that you can prepare at your home.

French lentil soup

• A complete vegan soup, this classic and easy French recipe can be relished by both vegans and non-vegans.
• All you need is sauted onions, celery carrots and chopped garlic, and carrots. Heat them in a saucepan for 12 to 15 minutes or until they turn brown. Add salt, thyme, and black pepper to taste and continue cooking for another minute.
• Add pre-boiled lentils, diced tomato in a vegetable or chicken stock (as per your preference) and bring the soup to boil. Reduce the temperature slightly so that it is simmering.
• Simmer it until it forms a puree like consistency. Serve the soup hot in a boul. You can also store and refrigerate the same and consume it for up to 3 days.

Croque Monsieur

• Croque in French translates to “church”. This is another easy French recipe that you will find in every bistro out there France. These are tasty little sandwiches that come in variety of flavors.
• The Croque provincial is a delicate sandwich of tomato, cheese, ham, and herbal mayo. Lets look at the method of preparation of a traditional Croque Monsieur.
• Preheat the broiler in the lowest heat setting, and spread mustard on 4 slices of bread. Add half a cup of gruyere which is a form of cheese, if you don’t have gruyere, you can use a substituting semi- soft cheese that has a creamy consistency. Place a few pieces of Ham. Cover it with the other piece of bread. Smear butter on top.
• Place the prepared sandwiches in an ungreased baking tray and cook them crispy golden brown. Cover it with remaining cheese and cook them for additional 5 minutes.

Steak au Poivre

• The name of the dish literally translates to “pepper steak”. It is a fabulous way to dress up a perfect strip steak.
• The steak is simply seasoned pepper and salt and then fried in a skillet. Add a half a cup of cognac (add it carefully as it may fame up). Add a bit of cream on the side. The delicious steak is ready to serve and relish.

Today, most people are guilty of consuming unhealthy snacks and meals. Binge eating foods like fried chips, chocolates and more have become a part of life. Although the realization comes much later, these foods have a very adverse effect on the body. From obesity to heart problems, consuming unhealthy foods come with a big price to pay.

If you are looking for a healthy yet tasty meal to eat, there is no better option than a peach oatmeal crisp. As the name suggests, the peach oatmeal crisp recipe is mainly comprised of fresh peaches and old-fashioned oats. While the fantastic dish can be prepared in time as less as one hour, it will make you salivate. Making for a great breakfast meal, here are a few benefits that make the old peach oatmeal crisp recipe a winner:

Loads of vitamins – Peaches are a rich source of nutrients and vitamins. It is packed with vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin C and also loads of calcium and iron. These nutrients are essential in the right upkeep of your body as they serve in the proper health of various organs. Eating peach oatmeal crisp recipe keeps your body going through the day.

Weight loss – Weight loss can be a difficult goal to attain, especially with the restriction of certain foods and rigorous exercises. The peach oatmeal crisp recipe is not only tasty but can also aid in your journey. Peaches are high in water content and dietary fiber, ideal elements for weight loss. On the other hand, the oatmeal keeps you satiated for longer hours, making you feel fuller for longer.

Regulates bowel movement – Constipation or an unhealthy bowel movement can meddle with the well-being of the body. The peach oatmeal crisp recipe is a rich source of dietary fiber due to its primary ingredients like oats and peaches. This dietary fiber stimulates the digestive process and also aids in overcoming constipation, thereby cleansing your body.

Strengthens immune system – Oatmeals and peaches, both the ingredients are high in vitamins. These nutrients are helpful in breaking down the complex lip compounds as well as strengthening the immune system. Loading on these vitamins helps the body in fighting diseases like cancer and other dreaded illnesses.

Cleanses the body – Peaches are believed to cleanse the kidney and also bring relief to the digestive system. They are widely used as a detoxifying agent and thus, eating a peach oatmeal crisp can aid in keeping your body well-cleansed.

What are you waiting for, go ahead and source the great peach oatmeal crisp recipe from your grandma?

Blanching is a process in which a vegetable or fruit is scalded in boiling hot salt water, after which it is immersed in an ice cold bath to stop the cooking process. Blanching is done to mainly stop the enzymes from causing loss of flavor, texture or color of the said fruit or vegetable. Corn can be frozen in two distinct ways, without blanching and after blanching.

How to freeze corn without blanching?

There are two ways in which you can preserve corn without compromising the corn cob.

Whole corn cob freeze: This process is by far the easiest way to freeze corn which does not require any blanching. Three steps to follow include shucking the corn, stuffing it in a nice freezer bag and just directly plop it in the freezer. While this might be the most time-saving method, simple to follow, there are a few drawbacks of flash freezing corn.

It will be difficult to use the kernels which won’t separate from the corn cob unless the entire cob is left to thaw at room temperature. Frozen kernels are difficult to extract from the cob which is why this time-saving method might end up costing you more time. Alternatives can be suggested to answer the question how to freeze corn using a technique which does not necessarily include a flash freeze.

Unblanched frozen corn kernels: Kernels can be used in a variety of recipes which is why it is a good idea cut off the kernels from the cob, to be then frozen. An easy alternative as opposed to trying to remove frozen kernels from the frozen cob, which is why the process is effective when reversed. This not only retains the flavor but also keeps the texture and color of individual corn kernels intact to be used, whenever needed.

How to freeze corn after blanching?

The alternative way to freeze and preserve corn would be after it has been blanched. Corn which has not been blanched will taste raw, after being frozen and stored for a while. Cooked corn kernels however will taste fresh even after they have been frozen, which can be then used in salad and salsa recipes. This method will ensure delicious golden yellow kernels with just the right amount of crunch and taste. Both methods are debatable, each depending on the type of recipe. Blanching, cooking, cooling, and freezing might be a more time-consuming process, but the end product will be certainly worth the effort.

The methods for freezing corn will mainly depend on the type of corn you are using, the recipe for which it is being used, among many factors to be considered. Two distinct ways include freezing corn after it has been cut off from the cob, blanched and cooked as opposed to freeing the entire corn cob without cutting the kernels.

The steps to preserve corn are quite simple. However, here are a few commonly asked questions on how to freeze corn answered for your reference.

Is it a good idea to freeze an entire corn cob?

There is no harm in freezing an entire corn cob. However there are a few drawbacks of doing the same. Since the corn cob will not be blanched at first, the end product to be used after it has been frozen can taste quite raw and mushy. The corn cob has to be left to thaw which will release all the water inside kernels making it mushy and not suitable to be used in a number of recipes. Also, it will be difficult to separate the kernels from the corn cob after freezing as opposed to the alternative methods.

Is there a different way to freeze sweet corn as opposed to freezing regular corn?

People always ask how to freeze corn and sweet corn in particular. Sweet corn tastes best when it has been blanched at first before freezing. Blanching will cook the corn on the cob, and the freezing process will help preserve flavors of the kernels to be later used in fresh recipes like salads or even salsa’s. Cooking the kernels before freezing will always ensure a fresh taste as the enzymes which destroy flavor are eliminated in the process.

For how long can blanched corn be stored in the refrigerator?

Processes for blanching and freezing corn are simple to follow. But the real question that arises apart from how to freeze corn would be for how long can corn be stored in the refrigerator thereafter. Ideally, it is advisable to store corn in a vacuum sealed pouch to be frozen to retain the texture, flavor, and color for that matter. You can seal a simple plastic bag by sucking out all the air using a straw, to be then stored in the fridge or the freezer. The corn will stay fresh for as long as you plan to store it.